New Plate Decoder Allows Duplicate VIN

[ricmorin]

We decoded a vehicle today using the new plate decoder. We thought this was a new vehicle for us, but apparently we've seen it before. Manager allowed the creation of a new vehicle with a duplicate VIN. I don't think this is desirable.

BTW, we LOVE this new feature. Saves us a lot of time.

[brianp87]

We decoded a vehicle today using the new plate decoder. We thought this was a new vehicle for us, but apparently we've seen it before. Manager allowed the creation of a new vehicle with a duplicate VIN. I don't think this is desirable.

BTW, we LOVE this new feature. Saves us a lot of time.

I have had this also it bit me in the

[Silky7]

Thanks for the report. We'll look into this.

[sbebenelli]

What does this plate decoder do and how does it work that's different than what we have now?

[timbre4]

Plate to VIN looks at DMV data and returns VIN and decoded YMM info. All you had to input was the more visible license plate.

[donsauto]

So, where is this plate decoder located? I currently have to go into my Autowares program to decode and copy and paste. Sure would save time if I could do it directly from Mitchell.

[timbre4]

The Vehicle screen includes these options as follows:

VIN Decode is found in SE 6.5, 6.6 & 7.0
Plate-2-VIN is found in SE 7.0 only

[motley06]

Yes, this would be a big problem, especially in states like TX, where the state issues you new plates every few years, regardless of a new vehicle or not

[nickscarcare]

MN also issues new plates every few years, we like the plate lookup, but only use the VIN lookup due to this issue. Then is will pinpoint if the vehicle has been there or not.

[sbebenelli]

Iowa changes plates every so many years. It's a pain.

[ricmorin]

Just a follow-up, this is still occurring. I inadvertently duplicated another vehicle with the same VIN by using the plate decoder. I'm getting worried that there are more we didn't catch. Is there a timeline for fixing this? And is there a way to search for duplicate vin's?

[nickscarcare]

Do the VIN decode, then it will pop up if the VIN has been entered already. Or you can search the VIN first.

[sbebenelli]

Just a follow-up, this is still occurring. I inadvertently duplicated another vehicle with the same VIN by using the plate decoder. I'm getting worried that there are more we didn't catch. Is there a timeline for fixing this? And is there a way to search for duplicate vin's?

I have also ran into this

[ricmorin]

Do the VIN decode, then it will pop up if the VIN has been entered already. Or you can search the VIN first.

While that's certainly an option that I'm well aware of, that doesn't help the thousands of other users, many of which do not frequent this forum. My reason for bringing this back to the forefront is to help M1 be better for everyone. This newly introduced feature has a serious flaw and many will not know.

[sbebenelli]

Do the VIN decode, then it will pop up if the VIN has been entered already. Or you can search the VIN first.

While that's certainly an option that I'm well aware of, that doesn't help the thousands of other users, many of which do not frequent this forum. My reason for bringing this back to the forefront is to help M1 be better for everyone. This newly introduced feature has a serious flaw and many will not know.

Plus we should not need to go through extra unneeded steps to prevent a duplicate from happening.

[nickscarcare]

Sorry, we just use the Vin decoder, that way there is no mess up with plate #. We love the Vin decode feature. Not sure what steps are unneeded, 17 digits and bam there's your info.

[sbebenelli]

Sorry, we just use the Vin decoder, that way there is no mess up with plate #. We love the Vin decode feature. Not sure what steps are unneeded, 17 digits and bam there's your info.

6 digit plate number is sooooo much quicker than typing the whole VIN

[nickscarcare]

You are not wrong, but if VIN is correct, no duplicates!! If it takes us another 5 seconds to type the remaining 11 charachters, well to have the right vehicle, that is the way we make sure then, and don't have duplicate issues like you. Spend less time in the long run making sure of if there is duplicate vehicles or not!

[ricmorin]

You are not wrong, but if VIN is correct, no duplicates!! If it takes us another 5 seconds to type the remaining 11 charachters, well to have the right vehicle, that is the way we make sure then, and don't have duplicate issues like you. Spend less time in the long run making sure of if there is duplicate vehicles or not!

You're missing the point. We know there is a workaround. A feature is broken. Don't use it. I get it. The point is all the other users who don't know this, who don't frequent the forums. They are the victims.

If both features worked perfectly, the plate decoder is much more efficient. It's the one I want to use. I wirelessly scan VIN's into Manager and using the plate decoder is STILL more efficient.

[ricmorin]

Just a follow-up, this is still occurring. I inadvertently duplicated another vehicle with the same VIN by using the plate decoder. I'm getting worried that there are more we didn't catch. Is there a timeline for fixing this? And is there a way to search for duplicate vin's?

My follow up on this problem got a little side-tracked so I will ask the 2 questions again...

1. Is there a timeline to fix this?
2. Is there a way to search for duplicate VIN's?